Sweet Briar College will present its annual Gospel Fest at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 in Memorial Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.


Members of the Scott Zion Men’s Chorus perform at Gospel Fest 2005. Photo by Pat Richeson. More photosThe area’s best choirs and singers come together for a “joyous, foot-stomping, moving experience,” said Pat Richeson of the chaplain’s office, which organizes Gospel Fest during Black History Month.

The program includes Ameka Cruz, Maggie Maddox and Jessica Otey; Derrick Thompson, Scott Zion Men’s Chorus, the Gospel Soul Searchers, Pearlie Sandidge with the J.C. Sandidge Memorial Ensemble, Rita Kidd, Youth for Truth, Central Virginia Community Choral Ensemble, Chapel Grove Workshop Choir and Children of God Gospel Singers.

“Gospel music is our roots,” said alto-tenor Pearlie Sandidge, who will perform with her ensemble. “It’s comforting. We find strength in that music, we find joy.”

In her years on Sweet Briar’s program, Sandidge said the groups who perform at the event have kept the music traditional. Her own song list includes “Precious Lord,” “I’m Free” and “Steal Away to Jesus.”

Good gospel music comes from giving praise to God, she said. “Anybody can sing but when God’s anointing is up on that person who’s doing the singing, it makes a difference.”

“I love to see people rejoicing when I sing, because he has anointed me. Sometimes you see tears streaming down … if I touch somebody’s heart, then that makes me happy.”

The Central Virginia area is fortunate to have so many gospel groups, and that a number of them travel an hour or more to Sweet Briar for Gospel Fest makes it exceptional, Sandidge said. “And the groups that I hear, they can really sing.”

The snow date is March 5. For more information, please contact the chaplain’s office at richeson@sbc.eduor (434) 381-6103.

– By Jennifer McManamay, SBC staff writer




Gospel Fest, which celebrates local congregations and their musical heritage, draws the entire community to Sweet Briar for a spirited, foot-stomping experience. Photo by Pat Richeson.